The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1887-08-04
AN AFRICAN QUEEN.
The Dusky Ruler of Savages on
the Upper Zambcsi,
A Picturesque Scene Witnessed
BY a Missionary.

The position of women in Africa is as
degraded as in most other savage lands,
and life is a round of toll to the weaker
sex in nearly all parts of the continent,
Here and there, however, is native
queen who has absolute influence over
her people and who surrounds herself
withns much pomp and circumstance as
her position permits. Mr.. Coillard, the
French Protestant missionary who saved
the life of Scrpa Pinto during that trav-
cler's trip across the continent, has sent
home few facts about picturesque fe
male who holds sway over the savage
barotse on the Upper Zambesi,
One day recently Queen Mokuac went
on an excursion to the tombs of her
fathers. She was expected to return to
her chief town two or three days later,
and on the appointed day everybody was
alert to hear the first sound announcing
the approach of the royal party. Sud
denly the measured beat of drums was
family heard. "She is coming! The
Queen is comingw The cry went through
the town, and several thousand men,
women and children lined the banks of
the broad Zambcsi and gazed down the
watcry expanse. The sound of drums
grew louder, and soon the royal barge
and the attending fleet came into view.
Under pavilion made of gaudily-
colored native mat sat the Queen in full
view of her subjects. Forty paddles
swiftly propelled her great canoe up the
stream. As she came opposite the town
the women and girls, who were ranged
in line on shore, began to intone chant
which struck Mr. Coillard as full of
weird beauty. 1t recited the praise of
Queen Mokuae At last the PROV of the
Queens barge struck the shore, and the
crowds of men who lined the way from
the rivers edge to the Queens mansion
instantly dropped on their knees and be-
gan to clasp their hands, keeping time
to the beat of the drum.
The Queen stepped out of her barge.
She was in gala dress for the occasion.
Over her shoulders she wore a bright
colored Indian robe, and several strings
of beads and ornaments of ivory encir-
e.ed her neck and large white pearls
were arranged with care in her hair.
| She saluted the white man with a wave
of her hand, but appeared to pay no
attention to her subjects. A process
sion was instantly formed with the ma
tive band at its head The musicians
wore suspended from their nccks the in
struments known as scrimbas, which are
long gourds, on which are strung chords
( of different lengths, which gave vari-
ETY. of sounds when struck with drum
sticks. As the procession started the
musicians struck up and did not cease
| playing until the Queen withdrew into
her apartments.
Behind the band walked the Queen,
and considerable distance behind her
the royal suite and the oarsmen of her
feet. As they passed along the populacc
fell into line, and so the long procession
marched until they reached the Queens
abode Then the master of ceremonies
spread on the ground lions skin, on
which the Queen took her stand. The
royal suite approached within about a
hundred feet, ranged themselves in line
before the Queen, lifted their hands to-
wards the sky, crying "Lochc! Locher'
and then prostrated themselves in the
dust.
Next the boatmen went through the
same ceremony, and then the populace in
detachments paid their respects to Their
ruler in the same manner; after them the
visitors in the village and finally Mr..
Coillard's own boatmcn. Then the Queen
disappeared within her house, and soon
after, surrounded by her young women,
gave an audience to the white man. She
had a whcezy accordion, over whose
keys she ran her fingers with surprising
agility, and she played a curious medley
of savage airs. She was very proud Of
her musical accomplishments, which
however, did not greatly impress hel
visitor.
Mr.. Coillard has been permitted to cs-
tablish mission in this town, where he
says many picturesque scenes only serve
to conceal all the horrors of paganism
and the grossest and most revolving
superstitions.